Chapter 246
His hands moved even faster, snatching the apple away before Joanna could react. When he noticed her surprised look, he masked his agitation with a calm smile. “Don’t let it go to waste. I’ll eat it in a bit.”
“Oh, okay.” Joanna eyed the apple again, something about the moment feeling off.
As Chester stepped out to take a call, she seized the opportunity. “Lance, isn’t Celly coming today?”
Lance paused mid–peel. “No, she’s not. Pushing too hard would only raise her suspicions.”
“I… I know,” Joanna replied, her gaze dropping, sadness flickering in her eyes. “If that hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have to bother you like this. Sometimes I wish I could turn back time, go back six years, when things were simple and everyone was happy.”
Lance’s hands stilled. He set the apple down.
“Joanna, none of this is your fault.”
Tears slid down Joanna’s cheeks, but she brushed them away without a second thought. “It’s alright, Lance. Chester’s already working on it. Once those videos are all erased, you won’t have to keep doing things you hate.”
Lance shook his head softly, his gaze growing even more tender. “Chester has his way, and I have mine. Compared to Celestine, you’re still far too innocent. No matter what happens, I’m not letting her walk away from this so easily.”
He hadn’t forgotten a single thing from the past.
Joanna was the only woman he’d ever wanted to protect.
Once Celestine was divorced, her reputation–well, that was something she never deserved in the first place.
If she really refused to settle down, he’d tell Chester to leave her an apartment and some money. As long as she kept her head down, it’d be enough for her to live out the rest of her life.
Lance turned away, placing the bruised apple back on the nightstand.
1/3
20-31
Chester took a call from his assistant.
Celestine’s apartment had already been rented out.
“How did she react?” Chester asked, his tone unreadable.
The assistant recalled how the agent had questioned Celestine’s identity and guessed, “She didn’t seem too happy, sir. But the agency already sent the lease paperwork to the office.”
“Alright. Got it.”
Chester ended the call.
He remembered when Celestine had just graduated–money was tight, so she moved in with roommates. She used to complain to him, sometimes subtly, about how inconvenient it was living with strangers.
After landing her first job, she didn’t rush to buy herself new clothes or jewelry. Instead, she found herself a small apartment, determined to live alone.
She’d made a vow then: Never again would she share her home with anyone.
He remembered her sly smile, those fox–like eyes darting over to him as she’d whispered, “Unless it’s someone I love.”
Later, they got married.
He was her first, and they moved into their new home together.
Through the years–except for that short stint in Portside City–every time he returned to Oceanview, he always came back to their house.
Chester stared out the window, a confident smile tugging at his lips.
How long can you hold out this time?
“Miss Selwyn, I’ll bring her over tomorrow.”
The apartment’s locks had been changed, and a cleaning crew had restored everything to its usual order.
Celestine and Gideon strolled through the place, making sure all was well.
“Alright. Do I need to prepare anything? Does Cynthia have any allergies or picky, habits?” Celestine asked with genuine warmth.
20:31
Chapter 246
She didn’t care much for her two unruly sons, but she’d always had a soft spot for children–especially sweet ones like Cynthia.
Gideon smirked, “As long as it’s not poison, she’ll eat it.”
Celestine couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, got it.”
Typical uncle–couldn’t resist a jab.
